Suicide and Lithium Deficiency

Note: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free and confidential support for anyone in distress, in addition to prevention and crisis resources. Also available for online chat.

The purpose of this page is to argue — or at least promote the scientific investigation into the argument — that suicide is the end result of a nutritional lithium deficiency.

In their 2016 book Nutritional Lithium: A Cinderella Story: … , Drs. Greenblatt and Grossmann close with an opinion:

“Lithium is an essential nutrient without a formally named deficiency syndrome defined by our current models.”

I disagree.

I think if they make anything clear through their book, the authors convincingly argue that suicide is that very syndrome.

They, as medical doctors are intelligent, think in the long-term, and are not willing to make such a bold claim without enough supporting evidence. I’m young, passionate, and just foolish enough to write it: suicide is the end result of a nutritional lithium deficiency.

Presentation/argument method:

  1. Note the difference between “theraputic” or “prescription” lithium and nutritonal lithium. Most of the usage of “lithium” in the literature refers to a completely different dose and molecule as nutritional lithium, and communication is impossible if we do not share common definitions.
  2. Provide overview argument: lithium deficiency >> symptoms >> serious depression and rage >> suicide. Welcome attacks and criticisms, especially scientifically valid ones.
  3. Provide overview of exactly what a named deficiency syndrome is: vitamin C’s scurvy, vitamin D’s rickets, etc. Give a history of deficiencies, if possible. Are there syndroms for magnesium, calcium, potassium, and other minerals?
  4. Periodic table: minerals, hydrogen’s importance, and lithium’s status.
  5. Provide preliminary RDA studies behind lithium.
  6. Show chart with references to each disease state; show progression (depression, other mental problems), then give a powerful closing statement.

Initial references to look into:

Update Log:

[10 April: Light edits, moved preliminary references from other page here]
[March 2017: Created]